Drum support tray

ABSTRACT

A support tray configured to support at least two different diameter cylindrical containers. The support tray includes a generally planar body with opposed support surfaces. A plurality of projections extend from at least one of the support surfaces. Each of the projections defines at least one engagement surface such that the engagement surfaces define a plurality of first rim receiving areas having a first diameter and a plurality of rim receiving areas having a second diameter distinct from the first diameter.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/484,301, filed Apr. 11, 2017, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to drum-supporting structures. Morespecifically, the present disclosure relates to a structure used forsupporting beer kegs, although the structure is also generallyapplicable to all types of cylindrical drums such as metal drums adaptedto contain any fluid and having extended rims at each end of the drum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Draft beer is marketed by brewers and distributors in generallycylindrical kegs of different sizes containing different quantities ofbeer. Among the most common keg sizes are 20 liter kegs (9.25 inchdiameter), 30 liter kegs (11.25 inch diameter) and 60 liter kegs (16.125inch diameter). The kegs of each volume are generally the same height,but have different diameters to define the different volumes.

In the past these kegs been handled or transported on conventionalpallets or trays with a flat deck, which requires strapping or the liketo prevent movement. While some attempts have been made to provide thepallets or trays with a contoured surface, the surface is typicallyconfigured to receive kegs having only one of the three sizes. Thisrequires three different pallet/tray configurations to handle thevarious keg sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a supporttray configured to support at least two different diameter cylindricalcontainers. The support tray includes a generally planar body withopposed support surfaces. A plurality of projections extend from atleast one of the support surfaces. Each of the projections defines atleast one engagement surface such that the engagement surfaces define aplurality of first rim receiving areas having a first diameter and aplurality of rim receiving areas having a second diameter distinct fromthe first diameter.

In at least one embodiment, at least two of the projections includeengagement surfaces which extend along more than one rim receiving area.

In at least one embodiment, the engagement surfaces define a pluralityof third rim receiving areas have a third diameter distinct from thefirst and second diameters.

In at least one embodiment, each of the support surfaces includes aplurality of projections and the projections on each support surfacehave a complementary configuration.

In at least one embodiment, the opposite support surface has a planarconfiguration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitutepart of this specification, illustrate the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, and, together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description given below, serve to explainthe features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a support tray in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the support tray of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the support tray of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the support tray of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2 with dashed lines showingintermediate keg receiving areas.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2 with dashed lines showingsmall keg receiving areas.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of large kegsstacked utilizing a support tray of FIG. 1 and an alternative traypositioned on a pallet.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view illustrating a plurality of large kegspositioned on a support tray in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of intermediatekegs stacked utilizing a support tray of FIG. 1 and an alternative traypositioned on a pallet.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view illustrating a plurality of intermediate kegspositioned on a support tray in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of small kegsstacked utilizing a support tray of FIG. 1 and an alternative traypositioned on a pallet.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view illustrating a plurality of small kegspositioned on a support tray in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout.Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. The following describespreferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it should beunderstood, based on this disclosure, that the invention is not limitedby the preferred embodiments described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an exemplary support tray 10 in accordance withan embodiment of the disclosure will be described. The support tray 10has a generally planar body 12 with opposed support surfaces 14, 16.Each support surface 14, 16 may include one or more recesses 18 whichadd to the rigidity of the body 12 and provide flow passages for fluidon the surface. The number and configuration of the recesses 18 is notlimited to that shown in the illustrative embodiments. The body 12 ispreferably manufactured from a molded plastic and may include internalribbing or the like, not shown, for added rigidity.

In the present embodiment, each support surface 14, 16 also includes aplurality of perimeter projections 20 and internal projections 26extending therefrom with the opposed support surfaces 14, 16 havingcomplementary topographies, each defining large, medium and smallcylinder rim receiving areas 30, 32, 34, which will be describedhereinafter, which are in alignment with those on the opposite surface.Referring to FIGS. 7, 9 and 11, an alternative embodiment of the supporttray 10′ is illustrated in which the support surface 16′ is distinctfrom the support surface 14. In this embodiment of the support tray 10′,the support surface 16′ defines a planar surface without projectionssuch that the support tray 10′ may be positioned on a pallet 40 or thelike. It is further contemplated that the surface 16′ may be formedintegral with a pallet or the like. In FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, only thesupport surface 14 is shown in plan view, however, it is understood thatthe opposed support surface 16 will have the same configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, each of the perimeter projections 20has one or more outer surfaces 21 which extend along the perimeter ofthe body 12. Each perimeter projection 20 also includes at least oneengagement surface 23 which extends along one or more of the large,intermediate or small rim receiving areas 30, 32, 34, as will bedescribed in detail hereinafter. The engagement surfaces 23 generallyextend along an outer edge of the respective rim receiving area 30, 32,34 and therefore generally have a concave or straight configuration.Each projection 20 may have multiple engagement surfaces 23 which extendalong different rim receiving areas 30, 32, 34. More specifically, FIG.2 shows the engagement surfaces 23 a extending along the outer edge oflarge rim receiving areas 30 while FIG. 5 shows the engagement surfaces23 b extending along the outer edge of intermediate rim receiving areas32 and FIG. 6 shows the engagement surfaces 23 c extending along theouter edge of small rim receiving areas 34.

Each of the internal projections 26 is spaced inwardly of the perimeterof the body 12 and defines at least one engagement surface 27 whichextends along one or more of the large, intermediate or small rimreceiving areas 30, 32, 34. The engagement surfaces 27 may extend alongan outer edge or an inner edge of the respective rim receiving area 30,32, 34 and therefore may have a concave, convex or straightconfiguration. Each projection 26 may have multiple engagement surfaces27 which extending along different rim receiving areas 30, 32, 34. Morespecifically, FIG. 2 shows the engagement surfaces 27 a extending alongouter and inner edges of large rim receiving areas 30 while FIG. 5 showsthe engagement surfaces 27 b extending along the outer and inner edgesof intermediate rim receiving areas 32 and FIG. 6 shows the engagementsurfaces 27 c extending along the outer and inner edges of small rimreceiving areas 34.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, the large rim receiving areas 30 areconfigured to receive three rows of large cylinders, in the illustratedembodiments, 60 liter kegs 31. The kegs 31 are positioned in a row ofthree kegs, a row of two kegs and a row of three kegs. Each of the kegs31 sits on the support surface 14 or is contacted along its top rim bythe support surface 16. The kegs 31 are not supported on any of theprojections 23, 26, but instead at least one engagement surface 23 a, 27a extends along the side wall of each keg 31. As such, the kegs 31 arepositioned in a relatively tight, sturdy configuration while stillsupported by the support surface 14.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 9 and 10, the intermediate rim receiving areas 32are configured to receive four rows of intermediate cylinders, in theillustrated embodiments, 30 liter kegs 33. The kegs 33 are positioned infour rows of four kegs. Each of the kegs 33 sits on the support surface14 or is contacted along its top rim by the support surface 16. The kegs33 are not supported on any of the projections 23, 26, but instead atleast one engagement surface 23 b, 27 b extends along the side wall ofeach keg 33. As such, the kegs 33 are positioned in a relatively tight,sturdy configuration while still supported by the support surface 14.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 11 and 12, the small rim receiving areas 34 areconfigured to receive 4 rows of small cylinders, in the illustratedembodiments, 20 liter kegs 35. The kegs 35 are positioned in four rowsof five kegs. Each of the kegs 35 sits on the support surface 14 or iscontacted along its top rim by the support surface 16. The kegs 35 arenot supported on any of the projections 23, 26, but instead at least oneengagement surface 23 c, 27 c extends along the side wall of a majorityof the kegs 35. In the illustrated embodiment, only the center most kegs35, i.e. the third keg 35 in each of the second and third row, are notcontacted by an engagement surface, however, they are surrounded by kegs35 which are so contacted. As such, the kegs 35 are positioned in arelatively tight, sturdy configuration while still supported by thesupport surface 14.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly,it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes ormodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It shouldtherefore be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include allchanges and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of theinvention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support tray configured to support at least twodifferent diameter cylindrical containers, the support tray comprising:a generally planar body with opposed support surfaces; a plurality ofprojections extending from at least one of the support surfaces, each ofthe projections defining at least one engagement surface such that theengagement surfaces define a plurality of first rim receiving areashaving a first diameter and a plurality of rim receiving areas having asecond diameter distinct from the first diameter.
 2. The support trayaccording to claim 1 wherein at least two of the projections includeengagement surfaces which extend along more than one rim receiving area.3. The support tray according to claim 1 wherein each of the supportsurfaces includes a plurality of projections and the projections on eachsupport surface have a complementary configuration.
 4. The support trayaccording to claim 1 wherein the opposite support surface has a planarconfiguration.
 5. The support tray according to claim 1 wherein thefirst rim receiving areas have a diameter of about 16.125 inches and thesecond rim receiving areas have a diameter of about 11.25 inches.
 6. Thesupport tray according to claim 1 wherein the projections are configuredto define an array of eight first rim receiving areas and an array ofsixteen second rim receiving areas.
 7. The support tray according toclaim 6 wherein the array of first rim receiving areas is in a 3-2-3pattern and the array of second rim receiving areas is in a 4×4 pattern.8. The support tray according to claim 1 wherein the engagement surfacesdefine a plurality of third rim receiving areas have a third diameterdistinct from the first and second diameters.
 9. The support trayaccording to claim 8 wherein the first rim receiving areas have adiameter of about 16.125 inches and the second rim receiving areas havea diameter of about 11.25 inches, and the third rim receiving areas havea diameter of about 9.25 inches.
 10. The support tray according to claim8 wherein the projections are configured to define an array of eightfirst rim receiving areas, an array of sixteen second rim receivingareas and an array of twenty third rim receiving areas.
 11. The supporttray according to claim 10 wherein the array of first rim receivingareas is in a 3-2-3 pattern, the array of second rim receiving areas isin a 4×4 pattern and the array of third rim receiving areas is in a 5×4pattern.
 12. The support tray according to claim 1 wherein eachengagement surfaces of a respective receiving area is configured toengage an outside surface or inside surface of a rim of a containerpositioned in the receiving area.
 13. The support tray according toclaim 1 wherein each of the engagement surfaces has a concave, convex orstraight configuration.
 14. The support tray according to claim 1wherein at least one of the support surfaces includes one or morerecesses.
 15. The support tray according to claim 1 wherein the body ismanufactured from a molded plastic.
 16. The support tray according toclaim 15 wherein the body includes internal ribbing extending betweenthe support surfaces.